Vandals hit Concord New Hampshire church

Police: Disturbing images found in building’s basement

Church leaders in Concord made an upsetting discovery in their building’s basement Tuesday morning.

Concord police said vandals broke into the building of the South Congregational Church and left a mess, using sugar packets and markers to draw satanic symbols.

“It can be unsettling when something like that happens. I don’t think anybody has any fear. It’s more a dismay,” said Rev. Carlos Jauhola-Straight.

Jauhola-Straight said staff members saw the numbers 666 written on the wall and on a clock, and using sugar packets, the vandals drew what appears to be a pentagram.

“The library had been strewn with napkins and tissues and sugar packets, and that there had been some graffiti drawn on the walls,” said Jauhola-Straight.

Police said the vandals entered the church through a window. According to investigators, the damage could have been in the basement for days without being discovered because the library wasn’t used over the weekend.

“We believe it could have happened sometime between Friday evening -- maybe between 5 and 6 o’clock -- and Tuesday, when it was discovered,” said Lt. Timothy O’Malley, of the Concord Police Department.

Police said the vandals created more of a mess than any real damage inside the church.

“When we took a look at the damage, it looked like more foolish vandalism,” said O’Malley. “The references to Satan and 666 is concerning, but we are not certain that that wasn't something more childish than something more sinister.”

Church officials said they will use the vandalism to increase awareness when it comes to security, and to take measures to make sure all doors and windows are locked when the building is empty.

“Other than that, I'm not sure what else we can do. (We’re) just trying to be proactive in response,” said Jauhola-Straight.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Concord Regional Crimeline at 603-226-3100.

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